GOP, don't lose out on the energy revolution

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Photos:Blackfriars bridge: click to view

Up to a megawatt of clean energy – The world's largest solar-powered bridge is located on the river Thames in the City of London.

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Photos:Blackfriars bridge: click to view

23 tennis courts of solar panels – Over 4,400 photovoltaic panels are installed on the roof, providing 50 percent of the energy needs for the London Blackfriars railway station located on the bridge.

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Photos:Blackfriars bridge: click to view

Over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved – The solar panels cover an area of 6000 square meters and are estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 511 tonnes each year.

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Photos:Blackfriars bridge: click to view

The world's largest solar-powered bridge – The solar panels were incorporated as part of a larger station upgrade to cater for more passengers and improve train services.

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Photos:Blackfriars bridge: click to view

A new twist on a legendary structure – London's Blackfriars bridge and railway station opened in 1886.

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Story highlights

As a landmark climate agreement is reached in Paris, the issue of clean energy remains polarized in the U.S.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Per Espen Stoknes: Republicans should take ownership of clean energy

Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California and founder of R20: Regions of Climate Action, serves as the Governor Downey Professor of State and Global Policy at University of Southern California, as well as chairman of the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. Per Espen Stoknes is an entrepreneur and part-time professor in economics and psychology at the Norwegian Business School. His latest book is "What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors.

(CNN)Even as the international community signed a landmark climate agreement in Paris over the weekend, the issue of clean energy remains polarized at home in the United States.

Renewable energy is not a political issue, and it is time Republican leaders acknowledge the truth.

The politicization of clean energy has allowed Democrats to occupy the position of being pro-sun and pro-wind to such an extent that Republicans -- in the eyes of many -- are completely linked with coal and oil. But in fact, the energy revolution underway relies on inherently conservative principles and Republicans should take ownership of clean energy.

History is littered with examples of thought leaders who did not embrace coming technological shifts. The consequence was simple: You get left behind and become less and less relevant.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – As world leaders prepare to make major promises on climate change, CNN wants to know the little ways that you try to help the planet. Here are our ideas - what are yours? Share your tips with #CNNGoGreen.

It's estimated that over 90 million pieces of clothing end up in landfills each year. You can reduce your impact by avoiding synthetic fibers (made from damaging chemicals) and buying clothes made with natural fibers such as cotton or wool, which break down in landills. And as fashion sustainability champion Vivienne Westwood said simply, "Choose well, buy less."

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – Beef is one of the livestock that takes a big toll on the environment. The UN estimates that cattle rearing and slaughtering accounts for 65% of the meat industry's greenhouse emissions. It's not just in terms of the methane cows produce -- they also require lot more water and land than sheep, chicken or pigs, which causes deforestation.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – Buying something brand new uses up resources, while trashing something causes further waste. Electronics can be repaired, clothing can be mended and furniture upcycled or restored.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – Put your money where your mouth is! Commercial interest in renewables is on the rise. The Collaborating Centre for Climate & Sustainable Energy Finance reported a 17% surge in global investments in green energy last year, which is now worth $270billion worldwide.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – If you can't avoid producing significant emissions, try to make up for it. This isn't only through planting trees -- you can also use green energy in your home or invest in hydro or wind power.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – The transportation sector accounts for 27% of all greenhouse gas emission in the U.S. alone. So unless the face-to-face meeting is absolutely necessary, stay put.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – According to British NGO Waterwise, some old-fashioned toilets use 13 liters of water every flush -- over 6 times the amount of the recommended daily use. Using a dual flush toilet can save water. Switching to a "low flow" shower head reduces the amount of water usage, and maintains the power of a normal shower.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – The number of vehicles available through car-sharing schemes looks set to increase -- helping you save money while also saving the planet. With handbags, outfits, power tools and bikes all available to borrow, the "shareconomy" is in full swing.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – International shipping and transport contributes to around 25% of the CO2 emissions of most developed countries. The ingredients of local food and drinks are easier to trace too, while you can feel good about supporting local producers.

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Photos:The illustrated guide to saving the planet

#CNNGoGreen – Heating not only produces CO2, but also nitrogen oxides -- which are 300 times as powerful in warming the planet. In the U.S., 12% of all sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions are caused by cranking the heat. Added bonus: Using smart tech to save energy in the home means you'll save cash on bills. What are your green tips? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #CNNGoGreen.Will Worley contributed to this story.

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In 1980, when IBM considered the growth of the personal computer to be peripheral to the mainframe computer industry, the company made the biggest blunder in its history. It continued to direct investments to mainframe technology because it missed the fact that the market was shifting to a distributed model. Today, in retrospect, it's easy to see the company's error in judgment.

In the energy arena, are we repeating IBM's mistake on a global scale? We need only look at the data to see the shifts taking place. The cost curves of solar, wind and batteries are falling quicker than those of gas and coal. The solar industry is growing its market share and adding jobs nearly 10 to 20 times faster than the rest of the economy. We have seen this particularly in California.

Looking out 10 years, the economics of wind and solar power are poised to be on the winning side. According to Deutsche Bank, the ratio of coal-based, wholesale electricity to unsubsidized solar electricity cost was 7:1 four years ago. This ratio is now less than 2:1 and could likely approach 1:1 over the next 12 to 18 months.

Paris' usually jam-packed roads went car-free for a day on September 27.

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Photos:Are cars in cities a thing of the past?

Madrid's vehicle-free zone now extends to over one square mile to reduce the pollution that sometimes covers the city with a murky brown film. A plan to close off 24 of the city's busiest streets is likely to be approved early next year.

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Photos:Are cars in cities a thing of the past?

Hong Kong is mulling over plans to make one section of its bustling downtown a bit more eco-friendly. A range of civic groups have proposed to make Des Veoux Road in Central, a major city artery, pedestrian-only.

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Photos:Are cars in cities a thing of the past?

Trams will be the only kind of vehicles allowed in the zone, if the concept was approved. Members of the public will be asked to vote for their favorite plan next month.

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Photos:Are cars in cities a thing of the past?

China may perform miserably overall when it comes to air pollution but by 2020, this is what Great City, a town outside of Chengdu, China is projected to look like. It's been designed so that the distance between any two points in the city should be walkable within about 15 minutes, eliminating the need for cars.

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Photos:Are cars in cities a thing of the past?

Scheduled for completion in 2020, it will accommodate up to 80,000 people, planners Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture Designs said, and residents can make use of a system of electric shuttles.

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Photos:Are cars in cities a thing of the past?

Abu Dhabi in the UAE is building what they say will be the world's first zero-carbon city. Not only will it be free of cars and skyscrapers, it will be solar-powered.

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Photos:Are cars in cities a thing of the past?

Emiratis will have to give up their gas-guzzling SUVs in this town. The city plans to use driverless electric pod cars to transport people.

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According to financial analysts such as Citibank, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Bernstein Research, and leading investors, it's now very obvious: Creative destruction will inevitably flow through the energy economy in the coming decade, and innovation in renewables will do to coal and oil what cars did to the horse and carriage industry, what digital cameras did to Kodak, PCs to IBM, mobile phones to fixed-line telecoms, Amazon to bookstores and Netflix to Blockbuster.

Republicans run a huge risk of being associated too closely with the old order, just as the IBM board did when it placed its faith in central mainframes. The psychology of such decision-making is well known. It arises from overconfidence in one's own position and something that psychologists refer to as confirmation bias: the tendency to gravitate toward facts that support one's existing viewpoint and ignore those that don't.

Yet the tides are changing. Republican groups like Young Conservatives for Energy Reform, the ClearPath Foundation and RepublicEN all champion the transition to a clean energy economy as a conservative issue. As Debbie Dooley, a founder of the tea party movement states: "I believe that solar equals energy freedom."

What's needed is more free market competition and real energy democracy. It's time to reduce the use of taxpayer money for government subsidies over the entire playing field. Old tax breaks to the energy sector, utility monopolies and lavish subsidies should be removed so the best technology and fittest players can win. Being resource efficient has always been an industrial and conservative core value.

The prevailing Democratic, environmentalist rhetoric that emphasizes climate doomsday and governmental regulations is flawed and based on negative psychology. Republicans have a huge opportunity to generate a positive storyline that supports our values: Stimulate business innovation in distributed energy, and don't tax solar power!

Let's avoid the mistakes of IBM or the fate of Kodak by communicating the tremendous opportunities of the energy shift, of responsible enterprise in revitalized markets, wise energy use, jobs growth and individual energy freedom.